It is estimated that millions of Americans experience SAD, although many may not know they have this common disorder. The risk of SAD increases with age. It's rare in people under age 20. Women are affected more often than men.

There is both a winter-pattern and summer-pattern SAD with the winter-pattern occurring more often. It  is more common in people living farther north, where there are shorter daylight hours in the winter.

You can find valuable information about SAD on these sites:

Johns Hopkins

National Institute of Mental health

Tips for managing SAD from the American Psychological Association include:

• Take in as much daylight as possible. Less sunlight and shorter days are thought to be linked to a chemical change in the brain and may be part of the cause of SAD.
• Eat healthily. Get creative and look for hearty, low-calorie recipes that are easy to prepare.
• Avoid social isolation. Spend time with your friends and family.
• Stay active. Research shows exercise and scheduling pleasant activities can be effective ways to lessen the impact of SAD.
• Seek professional help. If you continue to struggle with feelings of depression, you may want to seek help from a mental health professional.

Lifestyle changes include quitting smoking and making your home smoke free; staying active; receiving recommended vaccinations; avoiding allergens and irritants; and practicing good hygiene.

Medications that your provider might prescribe include:

• Bronchodilators - To relax the muscles of the airways and improve breathing. They are often administered through inhalers.
• Anticholinergics - To relax the muscles of the airways. Anticholinergics work differently and more slowly than fast-acting bronchodilators.
• Glucocorticosteroids - To reduce inflammation in the airways. Most often as an inhaler.
• Antibiotics - May be prescribed to avoid or cure lung infections.
• Expectorants – To thin mucus in the airways so you can cough it out more easily.

For more information MAPA recommends these resources:

• American Lung Association Living With COPD
• CDC - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Cleveland Clinic - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Mayo Clinic - COPD

Personal health literacy is the degree to which individuals can find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.

MyHealthfinder is a prevention and wellness resource that is recommended to individuals and families. The site includes evidence-based health information in English and Spanish that’s actionable and easy to use.

This video provides some concrete examples in a way that merely reading about it cannot.

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STOP THE BLEED is a hemorrhage control course developed by the American College of Surgeons. This course is designed for individuals who have little or no medical training, as well as health care personnel who want to provide initial bleeding control to a victim of traumatic injury prior to the arrival of emergency medical services.

Minutes count! Someone who is severely bleeding can bleed to death in as little as 5 minutes. That’s why bleeding control—keeping the blood inside the body—is the purpose of STOP THE BLEED® training.

Stop the Bleed training courses can be found here https://cms.bleedingcontrol.org/Class/Search

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The purpose of the PPPE is to identify athletes that may be at risk for further injury or illness and to refer these athletes for additional medical evaluation prior to allowing them to participate.

You may think that the physical exam is the most important part of the PPPE, however the medical history is the most important component.  It can identify if your son or daughter may be at risk for a number of medical and/or orthopedic conditions that need follow-up.  If you are not accompanying your child for the appointment, be sure that you have reviewed it with them.  It is only as good as it is accurate.

Here are some resources for additional information

What Is a Sports Physical?

Sports Physicals

Importance of Pre-Participation Physical Exam

2023-24 MSHSL ANNUAL SPORTS HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report for 2022, while not yet complete, shows 11 non-occupational, fireworks-related deaths and an estimated 10,200 injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments.

Which fireworks are legal depends on state law.  In Minnesota the easiest way to remember which are NOT legal is “if it flies or explodes, it's illegal.”  That includes bottle rockets, firecrackers, and roman candles.  Here is a complete rundown of Minnesota fireworks law.

The best way to avoid potential fireworks injuries is by attending a professional, public fireworks show rather than purchasing fireworks for home use.

For a comprehensive list of fireworks safety rules and what to do in the event of an eye injury we recommend this resource from the American Academy of Ophthalmology: Fireworks Eye Safety This site also has a link to an important video: The Blinding Truth About Fireworks

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The best way to avoid skin damage from the sun is to practice proper sun protection every day. This means always wearing a high SPF broad-spectrum sunscreen (even on cloudy days), avoiding the outdoors during peak UV hours, and wearing UV resistant apparel.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, five or more sunburns over the course of a lifetime double your risk of melanoma.

Here are some resources for additional information:

United States Environmental Protection Agency Action Steps for Sun Safety

CDC Sun Safety Guide

Johns Hopkins Sun Safety

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The aim of Better Sleep Month is to encourage people to establish better sleep patterns. Many experts believe that 7 to 8 hours of rest at night is optimal, however, the quality of sleep during those hours is just as important.

More than a quarter of the U.S. population doesn’t get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation has become so prevalent that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identify it as a public health epidemic. Inadequate sleep can lead to health problems including high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression.

How sleep affects your health from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute provides details on the consequences of sleep deprivation

6 steps to better sleep from Mayo Clinic

10 Reasons to Get More Sleep from Healthline

There are more than 3,500 people in the Upper Midwest waiting for an organ, eye, and/or tissue donation. Nationally, there are over 106,000 people who need an organ transplant. Unfortunately, 17 people die every day as a result of not receiving the organ or organs they needed.

Who Can Donate?

All people should consider themselves potential organ, eye, and tissue donors. Your age, race, ethnicity, religion, or health (in most cases) don’t matter.

Sign Up To Be An Organ Donor You can provide lifesaving organs to as many as eight people. Every registration counts.    

Here are some additional resources:
Donation After Life
Donation While Alive  
Donation FAQ for Patients 

Colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is the third most common cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of death from cancers that affect both men and women.

Unlike most cancers, colorectal cancer is often preventable with screening and highly treatable when detected early. Most cases of colorectal cancer occur in people ages 45 and older, but the disease is increasingly affecting younger people.

Screening is the number one way to prevent or detect this disease early, when it’s most treatable. With early detection, CRC has a 90% survival rate.

The best thing you can do to avoid this cancer is to stay active, don’t smoke, eat a diet full of vegetables instead of red meat, and get regular colon screenings, starting at age 45, or younger if you have a family member who has had this cancer.

When it comes to colorectal cancer, the most common symptom is no symptom. That’s why colorectal cancer is called the silent killer. If you’re 45 and at average risk, get screened!

CDC Colorectal Cancer Awareness

Prevent Cancer Foundation

Find out more at the CDC website Cholesterol Myths and Facts

• Myth: All cholesterol is bad for you.
• Myth: I would be able to feel it if I had high cholesterol.
• Myth: Eating foods with a lot of cholesterol will not make my cholesterol levels go up
• Myth: I can’t do anything to change my cholesterol levels.
• Myth: I don’t need statins or other medicines for my cholesterol. I can manage my cholesterol with diet and exercise.

A simple blood test can determine if you have high cholesterol. If you do one approach to treatment is called “Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes”

Donating blood is safe and easy. The entire process only takes about 1 hour of your time. All potential donors receive a thorough health screening, and eligible donors may give up to six times per year. A single donation can save up to three lives. This means you have the potential to make a difference in up to 18 lives per year!

Here are some resources if you would like to learn more about donating blood or determine if you may be eligible:

• Donate blood 

• Eligibility requirements 

• Donation process overview

• Common concerns

With most conditions a person becomes concerned when they develop symptoms. With HIV, symptoms may not develop for many weeks or months after exposure. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that everyone aged 13 – 64 should be tested for HIV at least once, and if they are sexually active or share syringes or other injection equipment they should be tested yearly. All pregnant people should be tested for HIV because treatment is available that substantially reduces the risk of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV.

Unlike some other viruses, the human body can’t get rid of HIV completely. Once a person has HIV, they have it for life, but with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. People with HIV who get effective HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners.

Here are some resources we recommend:

CDC Resource Let’s Stop HIV Together

Minnesota Department of Health HIV Testing Clinics and Outreach Sites. There are at least 7 sites in Minneapolis; 5 in St. Paul; and 8 in Greater Minnesota.

Minnesota Department of Health HIV Prevention and Care

CDC HIV Treatment

It is estimated that 20% of adults in the United States have GERD. Treatments include lifestyle changes such as weight loss (if obese), elevation of the head of the bed, stopping smoking, and waiting at least 3 hours after eating before lying down. There are a variety of over the counter and prescription medications available.

MAPA recommends you speak with your health care provider to discuss your individual situation.

Here are some references with information on:

• Symptoms - Mayo Clinic

• Diagnostic Procedures - Johns Hopkins

• Treatment – NIDDK National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Minnesota law defines domestic abuse as physical harm, bodily injury or assault, or the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault, when done by a family or household member. Terroristic threats, criminal sexual conduct and interference with an emergency call are also forms of domestic abuse when they are committed by a family or household member.  Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office has prepared a document, Rights and Resources for Victims of Domestic Abuse, that contains valuable information.

If you’re being hurt or abused, The Minnesota Day One Crisis Hotline 1.866.223.1111 assists you to get help, get safe, and get support. One call connects you with an advocate trained in supporting victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking who can help you find a shelter and the services you need in your area. 

Additional Resources:
Day One the Call for Safety https://dayoneservices.org/
Domestic Abuse Project https://www.mndap.org/
Violence Free Minnesota https://www.vfmn.org/find-a-program 

Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40, but the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50. About 6 in 10 cases of prostate cancer are found in men older than 65.

Prostate cancer develops more often in African American men and in Caribbean men of African ancestry than in men of other races. And when it does develop in these men, they tend to be younger. Prostate cancer occurs less often in Asian American and Hispanic/Latino men than in non-Hispanic whites. The reasons for these racial and ethnic differences are not clear.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that men have a chance to make an informed decision with their health care provider about whether to be screened for prostate cancer.  It is no longer considered part of routine health screenings.  To help decide if you should be screened the American Urological Association (AUA) has developed a screening tool. 

The ACS recommends that screening be considered at:

• Age 50 for men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to live at least 10 more years.
• Age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes African Americans and men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).
• Age 40 for men at even higher risk (those with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age).

For more information:

• National Cancer Institute
• American Cancer Society
• Mayo Clinic

Recent information from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) shows that in 2021 there was a 22% increase in drug overdose deaths over 2020 for a total of 1,286.  For the first time since 2014, there was a larger percentage increase in overdose deaths in greater Minnesota (23%) than in the seven-county metro area (20%).  Through analysis of death certificates, MDH found that fentanyl was involved in 90% of all deaths involving opioids.

Naloxone is a lifesaving medicine that can reverse an overdose from opioids. Often given as a nasal spray, naloxone is safe and easy to use–and is safe to administer when bystanders are uncertain if opioids are involved because adverse side effects are very rare.

The Naloxone Finder on the Know the Dangers website can help people locate naloxone, which can be picked up at any time and kept in case of an overdose.

The following community-based organizations provide Naloxone overdose training and kits free of charge:

• Steve Rummler HOPE Network—Call 952-943-3937.

• Rural AIDS Action Network (RAAN)—Call 320-257-3036.

• Red Door Clinic—Call 612-543-5555.

• Indigenous Peoples Task Force—Call 612-870-1723.

• LSS StreetWorks Collaborative—Call 612-354-3345 or e-mail street.works@lssmn.org.

The three most common forms of viral hepatitis are A, B and C.

Type                      How spread

Hepatitis A          Close contact with an infected person; contaminated food or water

Hepatitis B          Through infected blood or other body fluids including sharing needles

Hepatitis C          Through infected blood or other body fluids; high risk sexual practices

Type                      Prevalence

Hepatitis A          Extremely rare (Fewer than 1,000 cases per year in US)

Hepatitis B          Common (More than 200,000 cases per year in US)

Hepatitis C          Common (More than 200,000 cases per year in US)

Type                      Vaccine?              Treatment?        Cure?

Hepatitis A          Yes                         Yes                         Most people make a full recovery

Hepatitis B          Yes                         Yes                         In development

Hepatitis C          No                          Yes                         Yes

For Minnesota-specific information, we recommend the Minnesota Department of Health.

The CDC has excellent educational materials.

Alzheimer’s Disease is one of a variety of diseases and conditions that damage brain cells and impair brain function. It is the most common type of dementia and accounts for up to 80% of cases.

Experts estimate more than 5.5 million Americans may have Alzheimer's disease and worldwide, more than 55 million people are living with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia.

The causes of Alzheimer’s disease are not currently known. Research suggests a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors may contribute and affect each individual differently. The most recognized risk factor for developing cognitive decline and dementia is advancing age.

10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life
• Challenges in planning or solving problems
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks
• Confusion with time or place
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
• New problems with words in speaking or writing
• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
• Decreased or poor judgment
• Withdrawal from work or social activities
• Changes in mood and personality

For additional information

Alzheimer's Association - Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter

Minnesota Department of Health Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Alzheimer’s Association “How is Alzheimer’s Diagnosed”?                             

Increased awareness of mental health can help the millions of people who are impacted by mental health issues throughout the United States. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that one in five adults have had or currently have symptoms of a mental illness.

According to a recent study done by Blue Cross Blue Shield diagnoses of major depression have risen dramatically by 33 percent since 2013. This rate is rising even faster among millennials (up 47 percent) and adolescents (up 47 percent for boys and 65 percent for girls).  This study also found that Minnesota is ranked the 4th most-depressed state in the nation.

Info graph courtesy of BlueCross BlueShield

Mental illnesses include many different conditions that vary in degree of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe.  MAPA encourages you to talk with your health care provider and to access these resources for additional information:

Mental Health by the Numbers from National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)

Mental Health Minnesota

National Institute of Mental Health

NIMH Mental Health Information

Mental Health Foundation  

Mayo Clinic

Stress can be debilitating, and it can cause and/or aggravate health problems. And since stress is a normal part of human existence it’s important to arm yourself with knowledge so you can recognize it.

The American Institute of Stress provides information on the signs and symptoms of stress as well as its effect on health. 

The CDC offers advice on coping with stress and the American heart Association provides three tips to manage stress. 

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system, resulting in damage to both nerve fibers and the fatty substance that coats and insulates them (myelin).  It affects nearly 1 million Americans and 2.5 million people worldwide. Its causes are unknown.

Symptoms of MS can vary greatly. However, some of the most common ones are:

fatigue, dizziness/vertigo, impaired coordination, tremors, muscle stiffness or spasms, bladder problems, numbness or tingling, and vision problems.  A diagnosis of MS is based on the history of symptoms and a neurological examination.

Treatments include therapies such as steroids to shorten the duration and severity of symptom exacerbations, and disease-modifying therapies DMTs which are used as long-term treatments to slow the progression of the disease.  In addition, there are medications that can be taken to alleviate some of the symptoms of MS, such as muscle weakness and fatigue. Physical therapy can also help with symptom management.

For more information go to

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Mayo Clinic

Johns Hopkins Multiple Sclerosis Center

Here are some resources for more information:

From the CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

From the NIH – National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

From Mayo Clinic

Minnesota’s statewide response to human trafficking includes the Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Human Services, and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety working in partnership with tribal nations and community-based service providers.

Safe Harbor in Minnesota is a statewide multi-agency initiative designed to meet the needs of sex trafficked and exploited or at-risk youth using a public health, public safety, human services, and human rights approach. Youth under the age of 18 who are sexually exploited are treated as victims, not juvenile delinquents. Supportive services as well as housing and shelter are available through age 24. Safe Harbor includes a child welfare response, training and technical assistance across disciplines, outreach initiatives, protocol development, and program evaluation

MAPA recommends these resources to broaden your understanding of what Minnesota is doing to prevent and deal with this pervasive problem:

• https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/safeharbor/index.html
• https://mnhttf.org/
• https://www.wfmn.org/mn-girls-are-not-for-sale/
• https://humantraffickinghotline.org/type-trafficking/human-trafficking
• https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/safeharbor/communities/youthoutreach.html
• https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/safeharbor/documents/11.8.2017safeharborcommunicationstoolkitexternal.pdf
• https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/safeharbor/documents/infoguidemedia.pd f

Truck Stops are often used for human trafficking.  For more on that aspect, click here.

We are all used to the idea of a designated driver - a person who remains sober as the responsible driver of a vehicle whilst others have been allowed to drink alcoholic beverages. People who use drugs also need to develop social strategies to prevent them from getting behind the wheel of a car while impaired.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a National Drug-Impaired Driving Initiative.  As part of this it has launched the If You Feel Different, You Drive Different campaign to educate Americans about the dangers of driving while impaired by drugs, and to promote safer choices. Also, each year they team up with law enforcement for their If You Feel Different You Drive Different, Drive High Get a DUI campaign to remind drivers that drug-impaired driving isn’t a mistake; it’s a crime. 

Here are additional resources:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drug-impaired-driving

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/drugged-driving

https://nationaltoday.com/national-drunk-and-drugged-driving-prevention-month/